Law Updates

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has released new amendments to improve the Indian Standards for electricity meter data exchange. These updates focus on better accuracy, secure communication, and smooth data transfer for both smart and static energy meters. 

The amendments include IS 15959 (Part 1): 2011 for static energy meters, IS 15959 (Part 2): 2016 for smart meters, and IS 15959 (Part 3): 2017 for transformer-operated meters. Established on 22 October 2025, these will remain in force until 21 April 2026. The updated BIS standards aim to support India’s growing smart grid systems and ensure transparent tariffs and load control. 

This initiative strengthens standardization, promotes reliable energy management, and aligns with national goals for digital and sustainable power infrastructure. The BIS amendment marks another step toward efficient energy monitoring and better power quality across India.

The Central Pollution Control Board issued a new notification that grants official recognition to the Central Laboratory of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board in Gandhinagar. This recognition declares the lab as an authorized Environmental Laboratory under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 

The notification also lists the approved Government Analysts responsible for testing different groups of environmental parameters. The lab can now carry out tests for water, wastewater, soil, sludge, sediment, solid waste, hazardous waste, ambient air, stack emissions, noise, and meteorological conditions. 

This recognition strengthens environmental monitoring in Gujarat by allowing the lab to conduct physical, inorganic, organic, biological, microbiological, and toxicological tests. The approval remains valid until 10 July 2028, while the listed analysts will serve until the end of their official tenure or superannuation. This update supports stronger environmental compliance and enhances scientific testing across the state.

The Central Government has issued the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) (Eleventh Amendment) Order, 2025 under Section 3(1) of the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914. This amendment aims to boost India’s phytosanitary measures and control the safe import of agricultural commodities.

The Order, which comes into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, introduces specific changes to Schedule VI of the principal Order of 2003. Under Serial Number 262, relating to Pyrus communis (pear), new entries have been added in columns 3, 4, 5, and 6. These amendments establish updated import requirements and inspection conditions to avoid the entry of harmful pests and diseases through imported pears.

The revision shows the government’s ongoing efforts to increase plant quarantine standards, align import protocols with international best practices, and safeguard domestic crops from biosecurity risks. Importers and exporters handling fresh fruit shipments are advised to review the new requirements carefully to ensure compliance with the updated regulations.

The Central Government has published the draft Insecticides (Amendment) Rules, 2025, under Section 36 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, for public consultation. The notification invites objections and suggestions from individuals, industry stakeholders, and relevant organizations likely to be affected by the proposed amendments. Feedback must be submitted within thirty days from the date the notification is made available in the Gazette of India. Submissions may be sent to the Joint Secretary (Plant Protection), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The proposed amendment modifies Rule 10(1A) of the Insecticides Rules, 1971, by substituting the earlier compliance deadline of June 30, 2024, with a new deadline of June 30, 2026. This extension aims to provide additional time for licensing authorities, manufacturers, and stakeholders to ensure smooth compliance with procedural and safety requirements. The Rules will come into force on their final publication in the Official Gazette. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft carefully and submit their comments within the stipulated timeframe.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued a new notification on 24 October 2025 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018. It announced the establishment of twelve new Indian Standards covering various sectors such as leather, orthotic devices, geospatial information, fibre optics, IoT, and Digital Twin technologies.

Key updates include IS 2960:2025 for bookbinding leather, replacing the 1964 version, and IS 9471 (Part 1):2025 for modular lower limb orthotic components. The IS 11646 (Part 1):2025 sets standards for canes for persons with visual impairment, while IS 16439:2025 updates metadata standards for geospatial information.

New technology-focused standards include IS 19386:2025, IS 19394:2025, IS 19395:2025, and IS 19398:2025, which define IoT and Digital Twin frameworks, vocabulary, and compatibility requirements. The IS 18651 (Part 14):2025 covers power and control systems for powered wheelchairs, and IS 18888 (Part 2):2025 introduces a model for assessing online course content quality.

These new Indian Standards aim to enhance product reliability, digital trust, accessibility, and industrial innovation across India, aligning national quality norms with global benchmarks and supporting BIS compliance and certification initiatives.

The Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (EEQCO 2020), issued under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, sets out mandatory conformity requirements for specified electrical equipment. Following the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023, and the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2024, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has now issued a notification deferring the enforcement dates for most product categories listed in the amendment table, excluding those at Sr. No. 1.1(a), which came into force on 10 November 2024.  The deferment, announced under S.O. 2007(E) dated 5 May 2025, extends the timeline for compliance “until further orders”. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of product categories such as low-voltage switchgear and control gear should take note: while the compliance obligation remains operative in principle, enforcement will not begin until a later date. Stakeholders are advised to monitor updates and align their certification and supply-chain processes accordingly.